Abstract: A substrate for a solar cell is provided which comprises a support having a metal surface and a zinc oxide film formed on the metal surface and having a water content of 7.5×10−3 mol/cm3 or less, preferably 4.0×10−4 mol/cm3 or more. Thereby, the increase of series resistance and the generation of shunt are prevented and the efficiency such as Jsc and the chemical stability are improved, thus obtaining a solar cell with a zinc oxide film having optimal overall characteristics.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a surface-treated copper foil capable of consistently attaining a percent loss of peel strength in resistance against hydrochloric acid degradation of 10% or less as measured on a copper pattern prepared from the copper foil and having a line width of 0.2 mm, by bringing out the maximum effect of the silane coupling agent employed in brass-plated anti-corrosive copper foil. The Another object is to impart excellent moisture resistance to the surface-treated copper foil.

Abstract: An object of the invention is to provide a surface-treated copper foil capable of consistently attaining a percent loss in peel strength against hydrochloric acid degradation of 10% or less as measured on a copper pattern prepared from the copper foil and having a line width of 0.2 mm, by bringing out the maximum effect of the silane coupling agent employed in zinc-plated or zinc-alloy-plated anti-corrosive copper foil. Another object is to impart excellent moisture resistance, heat resistance, and long-term storage stability to the surface-treated copper foil.

Abstract: A housing made of a magnesium material is colored by a non-painting process. In this process, an anode oxide film is grown on the surface of the housing by subjecting the housing to anodization. The anode oxide film is colored without a paint being applied to the surface of the film.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for producing a clothing wire which is suitable for fitting to an opening-cylinder base body, wherein a raw wire which is customarily used to produce clothing wire is processed on end to form a wire coil, in which the teeth of the wire are perpendicular to the coil axis and which has a diameter which corresponds to the diameter of the opening-cylinder base body or differs by at most ±5% from the diameter of the opening-cylinder base body, and the wire coil is pushed loosely onto a support device and, together with this device, is introduced into an electroplating unit, the process steps which are customarily used for the chemical deburring of a raw wire and the nickel-diamond coating of a clothed opening cylinder taking place in the electroplating unit, and the clothing wire being removed from the electroplating unit.

Abstract: This invention provides an electrodeposition apparatus, comprising at least one electrodeposition vessel for supplying a current between a substrate and an electrode in an electrodeposition bath to form an oxide film or the substrate and a rinsing means for rinsing the substrate after passing the electrodeposition tank with water, wherein a humidifying means for preventing drying of at least the film forming surface of the substrate is provided along the transporting path of the substrate at least at the exit side of the electrodeposition vessel and an oxide film forming method. Thus a uniform oxide film without unevenness can be formed on the substrate.

Abstract: A device for producing electrical discharges in an aqueous medium which comprises a first electrode and a second electrode comprised of a superalloy having a cobalt content of greater than 8% by weight or optionally a nickel content of greater than 8% by weight. A high electrical voltage is applied to the electrodes to produce a voltage discharge into the medium that creates a pressure wave in the medium. The electrodes of the device exhibit high thermal shock resistance during discharge thereby reducing tip burnout.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of producing a zinc oxide thin film in which a current is passed between a conductive substrate immersed in an aqueous solution containing at least zinc ions and carboxylic acid ions, and an electrode as an anode immersed in the aqueous solution to form a zinc oxide thin film on the conductive substrate. This method stabilizes formation of the zinc oxide thin film and improves adhesion between the thin film and the substrate.

Abstract: A non-aqueous electrolyte comprises an organic solvent and a solute, and also has an electrolytic conductivity that is greater than or equal to 1 mS/cm but less than or equal to 100 mS/cm. This solute preferably includes at least one of a carboxylate and a salt of inorganic oxoacid. In addition, the non-aqueous electrolyte preferably comprises water in a proportion of 1 to 10 wt %. In an MIM nonlinear element (20), an insulated film (24) is formed by anodic oxidation using the above non-aqueous electrolyte. In addition, the insulated film comprises at least one of carbon atoms and atoms of families 3 to 7 that were originally the central atoms of the salt of inorganic oxoacid, and has a relative permittivity of 10 to 25. With this MIM nonlinear element, the capacitance is sufficiently small, the steepness of the voltage-current characteristic is sufficiently large, and also the resistance is sufficiently uniform over a wide range of voltages.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for forming a deposit on the surface of a metallic or conductive surface. The process employs an electrolytic process to deposit a mineral containing coating or film upon a metallic or conductive surface.

Abstract: A process for fabricating a silica-based optical device on a silicon substrate is disclosed. The device has a cladding formed in a silicon substrate. The device also has an active region, and that active region is formed on the cladding. The cladding is fabricated by forming a region of porous silicon in the silicon substrate. The porous silicon is then oxidized and densified. After densification, the active region of the device is formed on the cladding.

Abstract: The known flourinated layer has usually a thickness of from 1000 to 3000 angstroms. After the forced oxidation of metal, the forcibly oxidized surface is flourinated. As a result of the preceding forcing oxidation, a 1 &mgr;m or more thick fluorinated layer is formed on the surface of the metal.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a process for forming a deposit on the surface of a metallic or conductive surface. The process employs an electrolytic process to deposit a mineral containing coating or film upon a metallic or conductive surface.

Abstract: A process for forming a zinc oxide film including immersing an electroconductive substrate having a surface including a plurality of linear projections in an aqueous solution containing at least nitrate ions and zinc ions to form a zinc oxide film on the electroconductive substrate by a liquid-phase deposition. The plurality of linear projections may preferably provide an uneven surface which has a center-line average surface roughness Ra(X) of 15-300 nm when scanned in a direction parallel to the linear projections, a center line average surface roughness Ra(Y) of 20-600 nm when scanned in a direction perpendicular to the linear projections, and an Ra(X)/Ra(Y) ratio of at most 0.8. The thus formed zinc oxide film is provided with an uneven surface suitable for an optical-confinement layer of a photo-electricity generating device excellent in photoelectric performances.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a zinc oxide film on a sheet substrate including a tank containing an aqueous electrolytic solution containing at least nitrate ions and zinc ions, conveyer means for continuously feeding and conveying an elongated electroconductive sheet substrate having two major surfaces in a direction while dipping a lengthwise portion of the sheet substrate in the electrolytic solution, a counter electrode immersed in the electrolytic solution so as to be opposite to the lengthwise portion of the sheet substrate, and a power supply disposed so as to pass a current between the sheet substrate and the counter electrode, wherein the conveyer means include a plurality of rollers and an endless belt wound about the rollers so as to have a conveyer surface contacting and covering one of the major surfaces of the lengthwise portion of the sheet substrate dipped in the electrolytic solution while moving together with the sheet substrate.

Abstract: A microchannel plate and method of manufacturing same is provided. The microchannel plate includes a plate consisting of an anodized material and a plurality of channels which are formed during the anodization of the material and extend between the two sides of the plate. Electrodes are also disposed on each side of the plate for generating an electrical field within the channels. Preferably, the material is alumina and the channels are activated such that the channel walls are conductive and highly secondary emissive.

Abstract: A process for improving the adherence of paint applied after thin-film anodization is characterized in that the anodized metal surfaces are brought into contact with an aqueous solution containing one or more of the following components: (a) 200 to 2000 ppm of a homopolymer or copolymer of acrylic acid, methacrylic acid, and/or their esters; (b) 200 to 3000 ppm of a poly(vinyl phenol) compound in which at part of the phenol rings carry an alkylamino substituent; (c) 200 to 3000 ppm of hexafluorotitanic acid, hexafluorozirconic acid, and/or their anions.

Abstract: Acid-doped, polyaniline-based polymers are formed into fibers, films, and coatings with a solvent of at least one bicyclic terpene. Such a solvent system is characterized by a drying temperature of less than 150.degree. C. and a relatively low toxicity.

Abstract: A process for sealing anodized metals without using any heavy metals comprises a first step in which the anodized metal is contacted for a period of between 3 and 30 minutes (for an anodized layer thickness of 20 .mu.m) with an aqueous solution which has a temperature from 15.degree. to 35.degree. C. and a pH between 5.0 and 6.5 and contains from 0.1 to 3 g/l of lithium ions and from 0.1 to 5 g/l of fluoride ions and a second step in which the anodized metal is contacted for a period from 5 to 30 minutes (for an anodized layer thickness of 20 .mu.m) with water or an aqueous solution of substances which prevent the formation of a sealing coating, the solution having a pH from 5.5 to 8.5 and a temperature from 80.degree. to 100.degree. C.

Abstract: In a ceramic substrate with a thin-film capacitor, having a ceramic substrate a lower electrode layer formed on the ceramic substrate, a dielectric layer formed on the lower electrode layer and made of an oxide of a material constituting the lower electrode layer, and an upper electrode layer formed on the dielectric layer, a plating layer is provided between the ceramic base and the lower electrode layer to serve as a basis for the lower electrode layer.

Abstract: A method of producing composite oxide ceramic fluorine polymer layers on articles of aluminum, magnesium, titanium or their alloys, particularly of light metal components, includes introducing particles of fluorine polymers into the capillary system of an oxide ceramic layer. The particles have a particle size which at least in one dimension is smaller than the diameter of the capillaries. The article is then subjected to alternating pressure conditions.

Abstract: A magnetic recording medium having a substrate made of aluminum or aluminum alloy and an anodic-oxide film, e.g., alumite film, formed by effecting the anodic oxidation process, wherein the surface of the alumite film has protruding portions formed in addition to micro-irregularities which are formed in response to the cell-pore structure of the alumite film and height of the protruding portions is higher than that of the micro-irregularity, and density of the protruding portions is ranging from 10.sup.2 to 10.sup.7 per one square millimeter, these protruding portions are formed by processing the alumite film in the fluorine-contained solution (e.g., hydrofluoric acid) or in solution containing one of the acid (HCl), base (NaOH) and strong-acid salt ((NH.sub.4)SO.sub.4), Cr film and magnetic film are sequentially formed on the alumite film by the sputtering process.

Abstract: A blackened steel strip having improved blackness is produced in an efficient manner by anodizing a zinc alloy-plated steel strip in a solution containing 5 to 100 g/l of ClO.sub.3.sup.- and 10 to 300 g/l of SO.sub.4.sup.2- at pH 0.5 to 2.5 at a temperature of 30.degree. to 75.degree. C. and with a quantity of electricity of 10 to 300 C/dm.sup.2, and forming an acrylic resin chromate layer on the anodized steel strip to a thickness of 0.3 to 2.5 .mu.m. The solution may contain 5 to 100 g/l in total of at least one co-additive selected from Cl.sup.-, NO.sub.3.sup.-, H.sub.2 O.sub.2, Ni.sup.2+, Co.sup.2+, Fe.sup.2+, and Mn.sup.2+. The acrylic resin chromate layer contains 2 to 10 parts by weight of in the form of a chromate Cr per 100 parts by weight of acrylic resin.

Abstract: A copolyester film was laminated onto a steel sheet, this sheet having double layers consisting of a lower layer of metallic chromium and an upper layer of hydrated chromium oxide on a tin plated steel sheet in which 5 to 40% of the surface of the steel sheet is covered with plated tin and the remainder of the steel surface is exposed and the space between plated tin particles is 0.5 to 50 .mu.m, and a method for production of this copolyester resin film laminated steel sheet which comprises: (a) electroplating with tin under restricted conditions, (b) formation of said double layer on the plated tin and exposed steel surface and (c) lamination of the copolyester resin film at a temperature above the melting temperature of tin.

Abstract: Color change devices which are capable of undergoing a color change on bending. The devices comprise a flexible substrate having a color generating metal (e.g. a valve metal such as Ta or Nb) at at least one surface and an intimately contacting optically thin anodic film covering the color generating metal and generating a visible color by light interference and absorption effects. The thin anodic film is produced by anodizing the color generating metal in the presence of an adhesion-reducing agent (e.g. a fluoride) for weakening the normally tenacious bond between the anodic film and the metal. Devices of this kind capable of being activated by bending, as well as by separation of the constituent layers, are produced by carrying out the anodization step in the presence of a particular concentration of the adhesion reducing agent from a narrow range (e.g. 40-350 ppm of fluoride).

Abstract: A process for preparing an electrode foil for use in aluminum electrolytic capacitors is disclosed which comprises the steps of: subjecting an aluminum base foil to a first anodic treatment in an aqueous solution of oxalic acid or sulfuric acid; subjecting the base foil so treated to a second anodic treatment in an aqueous solution of boric acid or adipic acid; and immersing the base foil so treated into an aqueous solution containing phosphoric acid or a salt thereof. Also disclosed is an electrode foil prepared by this process, which comprises an aluminum base foil, an anodic oxide film disposed on the base foil, and a porous oxide film disposed on the anodic oxide film, wherein phosphate ions are adsorbed on the surface of the porous oxide film.